Levinson Jewelers to Open Second Store

Levinson Jewelers said it is planning to open a second South Florida location in the fall.

The store, set for a November opening, will be in Fort Lauderdale at 888 E. Las Olas Boulevard. This will complement the original Levinson Jewelers location in nearby Plantation.

“This new location is a major testament to the true value of customer loyalty,” said Mark Levinson, co-owner of Levinson Jewelers, along with his wife, Robin. “We have been fortunate to experience more than two decades of success, and now the demand for Levinson Jewelers quality and efficiency is reaching beyond our expectations. We feel we owe it to our current and future customers and friends to expand the Levinson brand.”

The Levinson’s have been hosting a series of 25th Anniversary Celebrations this year, which will peak with a grand opening party for the new store on Nov. 7.
Source: jckonline

Serial thieves steal $100,000 in jewelry from JCPenney

Serial thieves preying on JCPenney jewelry counters in California have taken more than $2 million worth of gold, silver and gems, including a $100,000 heist in Escondido this week.

There have been at least nine recent thefts from JCPenney department stores in the state, leading store officials to offer a $20,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the culprits.

On Wednesday, a trio of masked burglars hit the jewelry counter at the JCPenney store in Escondido's Westfield mall. It was all caught on surveillance cameras.

Investigators say the theft is related to a string of similar burglaries since December. JCPenney estimates it has lost $2 million in merchandise.
Source: sfgate

Friedman’s Appeals for Store Closings

After an auction whose results it was “not satisfied” with, Friedman’s Jewelers has now informed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court it wants to close most of its stores.

Friedman’s, currently operating in Chapter 11, is also in negotiations to sell 78 of its stores to WFC Acquisition Corp.

An attorney involved in the case said that WFC was an affiliate of Whitehall Jewelers.

Court papers say that, after it was “not satisfied” with the results of a March 6 auction, Friedman’s entered negotiations with the high bidder.

However, those negotiations did not produce a “satisfactory” agreement, and the negotiations were terminated March 25, with the exception of the current talks with WFC.

The papers continue that Friedman’s is determined that the “best way to maximize the value of their remaining assets … is to close their stores over the next several months.”

Friedman’s request will be ruled on in a court hearing April 4.

The attorney expected the motion to be approved, but noted “it’s always possible someone might come in at the last minute and said he’d like to bid.”

When it filed for Chapter 11, Friedman’s operated 388 stores in 19 states, and employed 2,890 people. Its subsidiary Crescent operates 85 stores in three states, and has more than 600 employees.
Source: jckonline

Life's little lessons, applied to the jewelry store

Ellen Fruchtman, founder and president of Fruchtman Marketing.

This is an article about life's little lessons, drawn from those familiar adages many of you have no doubt heard on your path to maturity.

My parents had three favorites, and I've been thinking about how important they really are in the retail jewelry world. I'm sure you've either heard or said most of these yourself at some point.

Lesson No. 1: You reap what you sow. This lesson simply means one will experience the results of his or her own actions. I thought about this lesson after I spoke to a jeweler in Chattanooga, Tenn., a few months ago, after Mr. Chattanooga requested information about our company. He took the time to go online, fill out data—you know, actually showed an interest.

Understanding the importance of good service and follow-up, we proceeded to send out our new business materials via priority mail—which, by the way, cost a pretty penny. I informed Mr. Chattanooga that I would call him during a specific week to see if he had any questions. And, like a good salesperson, I picked up the phone.

Then, for some reason, Mr. Chattanooga decided to be rude and extremely unreceptive to my call.

For the life of me, I'm not sure why. After all, he asked me to send the information. If the situation was reversed and I sent an inquiry to his store, would he not hope that someone would contact me? Then I got to thinking. Would Mr. Chattanooga want to be treated this way? He's in a high-end service business.

Think about it. How do you talk to and treat your own service people—from the postman, to the media rep, to some of your manufacturers? If you are rude, is that the message you're sending your own salespeople, or worse yet, your customers? People talk, both in the business and in your community. And you reap what you sow. Personally, I think he must have found out I was a Florida Gators fan.

Lesson No. 2: You get what you pay for. I'm feeling like this lesson has been lost on many jewelers lately. And yet, you spend a big part of your selling day trying to explain to customers why your diamond is worth more than that other one on Bluenile.com. (Also consider the adage, "Walk the walk; Talk the talk.")

Truth is, many of you simply forget to practice what you preach. Did your Web guy quote you $1,000 for a Web site? Are you buying your own media just to save 15 percent commission? Was the manufacturer really a better price for exactly the same quality and service? Did you cheap out on your cases, your decorating or maybe even your location only to be disappointed with the results?

In some way, shape or form, you'll pay for cutting corners. An inferior product will lead you to dissatisfied customers. And do I have to tell you where that leads you?

Lesson No. 3: If you don't speculate, you don't accumulate. When was the last time you tried to do something really innovative in your business? When was the last time you took a chance and stepped out of the box? (Heed the adage, "Don't let the world pass you by.")

If you really care about your business, take a full day (or two) and list all the things that have changed not only in your business, but in the business. Give some thought to future scenarios. What do you see happening in three years, in five years or more? What are the things you can change—really change—that will make a difference?

There's a solution to every business problem. (Remember: "When the going gets tough, the tough get going.") The reality is, doing business the very same way you have always done business may not work anymore.

If you've reached a point where it's no longer worth investing in your business, then you've reached a point for a good going-out-of-business sale.

There are lessons to be learned every day of the week. Some we know all too well. Smart people, those parents of mine.

Ellen Fruchtman (ellen@fruchtman.com) is the founder and president of Fruchtman Marketing, a full-service agency headquartered in Toledo, Ohio, and a member of the American Gem Society, representing U.S. independent jewelers, jewelry manufacturers and trade organizations.
Source: nationaljewelernetwork

Jewelry store owner's business is her passion

Beading has become more than a creative pastime for Renee Flores -- it's her life.

"I put my heart into it," she said. "This is one of my passions."

Now she hopes to share that passion with others with her new store, Native Wayz Beads Galore.

Flores previously ran a courier service called Red Pony Transportation, which she started in 2005 after a traffic accident forced her to leave her job with Cessna.

Meanwhile, she began to sell her items, which she has been making for about 20 years, at area festivals and craft shows.

"People kept asking me, "Where's your store?' " she said.

With the long hours driving taking a toll on her back, which was injured in the accident, she decided to close the courier business and opened the store.

Specializing in Native American and contemporary jewelry, sterling silver jewelry and a variety of hand-crafted and beaded items, Flores said she has one criteria for her inventory.

"I look for unique things," she said. "Unique is so much more fun."

Part of her eclectic collection comes from the pride she takes in her American Indian and Hispanic heritage.

It is a pride that Flores, who is of Apache descent, has passed along to her family.

Her daughters, 16-year-old Casara and 15 year-old Nicolette, have been named Indian Princesses by local American Indian organizations.

The girls also help out in the store, along with Flores' 9-year-old son, Joshua, and her nephew, 14-year-old Marques Flores.

Flores said she wants to expand to offer beading classes, but for now she is concentrating on showing her customers and family that a passion for what you do can make all the difference.

"This is a business, but it's also a life," she said. "It's my life."
Source: kansas

N.Y. jewelry stores accused of discrimination

All that glitters is not gold in 1,300 jewelry stores nationwide where sexual discrimination awaits female employees, according to a lawsuit filed Wednesday against the operator of the stores.

The lawsuit by current and former employees claimed that Sterling Jewelers Inc. practices a pattern of sex discrimination in the promotion and compensation of women and permits a work environment contaminated by unwanted sexual advances toward some employees.

The lawsuit said the company operates under at least 12 retail names including Kay Jewelers, Goodman Jewelers and Osterman Jewelers.

Sterling, the parent company, said it investigated the claims and found them to be without merit.

"We take the allegations raised in this lawsuit very seriously," it said. "We are confident that these charges do not reflect the culture of this company. Fairness, opportunity, integrity and respect are core values at Sterling."

The company said it did not believe the charges were valid and promised to defend "vigorously against whatever legal action arises."

The women said the company refused to publicize job openings and instead let managers select preferred employees in a "tap on the shoulder" system.

The lawsuit said Sterling has intentionally discriminated against women by maintaining a system for making promotion and compensation decisions that is excessively subjective and favored men over women.

The lawsuit alleged specific examples of discrimination faced by female employees, including Lisa McConnell, who worked at a Kay Jewelers store from July 2001 until August 2006.

The lawsuit said McConnell was told in October 2002 that her salary of $12 per hour as an assistant manager was $2 to $3 less per hour than similarly situated male assistant managers.

The lawsuit said she endured sexual harassment at the hands of a manager-in-training who commented on the anatomy of women who walked by the store and asked McConnell if she would find out if a woman who passed the store in a short skirt was wearing underwear.

The lawsuit, which asked to be designated to represent a class of all women who have faced discrimination at the stores, seeks policy changes and unspecified damages.
Source: usatoday

Seeing a void in jewelry market, former Mr. Z store manager opens own business

When Mr. Z and Co. Jewelers went out of business in December, Fred Westervelt realized there would be many loyal customers looking for a new place to shop for jewelry.

The store manager at Mr. Z for 11 years, Westervelt decided to help those people find a new place.

The original Mr. Z closed on Dec. 29. Little more than a month later, Westervelt opened a new store also called Mr. Z, on Feb. 1.

The store is located in one of Mr. Z's old locations at 3423 Miller Road.

"I opened this store primarily because so many of Mr. Z's customers asked for that," Westervelt said.

The store sells bridal jewelry and colored gems, Westervelt said. He also sells the Chamilia bracelet line, which features several different types of charms.

The store also does repairs -- nearly all of them on location, Westervelt said.
Source: mlive

Gem Mine offers full spectrum of jewelry

Whatever your jewelry needs may be, The Gem Mine probably has a solution.

At this Westwood store there are crystals, gems and tools with which you can make your own jewelry. There is ready-made jewelry, both modern and vintage. You can also bring in your old jewelry and turn it into something new.

But if none of these options is appealing, there's even another option: Bring a wild idea and have a piece of jewelry custom-designed.

"You are only limited by your own imagination -- that's what I always tell my customers," says Thea Day, who runs the shop with her mother, Mary Rossi.

The Gem Mine sells jewelry, lapidary and jewelry-making tools and equipment, as well as various minerals and crystals.

The store was started in 1970 by Day's father, who had a love of rocks and minerals and shells and in the past offered lapidary and silversmithing classes.

The Gem Mine settled in its current Westwood location in 1995 and attracts jewelry makers and design students from as far as Montclair and Rockland County for various supplies, Rossi says. They come for gems like suglite, ametrine and tanzanite.

"It's a very eclectic mix of things, but we never really got away from what we started out doing," Day says.

The store is known for its decorative pieces carved from various minerals, including a mahogany obsidian egg for $40 and an amethyst geode for $110.

The Gem Mine's collection of vintage jewelry includes a 14K gold lapel watch with diamonds for $550 and a 14K yellow and white gold and 0.2K diamond ring for $475, both from the 1940s.

Among the contemporary pieces are Denis Matthews' sterling silver and 14K gold necklace for $48 and matching earrings for $58. Clover earrings by Michael Michaud, who is known for making botanically correct jewelry, cost $48, and a tea rose necklace costs $98.

"We try not to go with the trendy stuff because anyone can do that," Day says. "We try to find the unusual, artistic-looking things."

Day also creates some jewelry herself. Recently she was wearing a handmade silver lariat necklace with kyanite and Swarovski crystals, priced at $75.

Customers looking for pieces with specific designs or for special occasions like weddings and bat mitzvahs can get jewelry custom-made. Often they bring in a dress with which they plan to wear the jewelry, and Day helps come up with a design. Cost varies on material and design.

The Gem Mine also does repairs and resettings. And unlike some jewelers, no customer gets turned away because the jewelry piece is of small monetary value, Day says.

"We do everything from costume to platinum," she says. "If somebody has something they really want to wear – it has sentimental value or whatever – I'll do what I can for them."
Source: northjersey

U.S. chain store sales up slightly in February

U.S. chain store sales inched up in February, increasing 1.9 percent compared with the same period last year, according to the latest study by the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC).

The sales performance was ahead of expectations for the industry, largely due to a 2.6 percent sales gain at Wal-Mart.

But despite the slightly better performance, sales were weak for apparel-specialty and department stores, as well as for the luxury sector, according to ICSC Chief Economist and Director of Research Michael Niemira.

For the month of February, U.S. consumers shopped at value retailers, spent most on staples and were downscaling, Niemira said.

And although the sales gain in February was the strongest since November 2007 when sales increased 3.5 percent, there was a considerable weak demand in the retail environment.

"Looking forward to March, we expect spending to improve slightly, as we are projecting an increase of about 2 percent," Niemira said.
Source: nationaljewelernetwork

Orr's Jewelry expands, opens new 10,000 sf location in Sewickley Village

After tripling the size of its Squirrel Hill location in 2003, Orr’s Jewelry has opened a second store at 532 Beaver St. in Sewickley Village.

Designed by Devlin Architecture, the new 10,000-square-foot property features a 6,000-square-foot retail showroom, second-floor corporate offices, a private viewing room, and a café. The two-story building also includes a dedicated parking lot and back of house operations such as watch repair facilities, storage areas and a kitchen. One particularly unique feature is the building's 3,000-squre-foot roof deck.

“There’s a lot of attention to detail on the limestone and brick. They really wanted it to feel like a New York space, with thought and attention to every detail, so it looks finished,” says Mary Oliffe, with Devlin Architecture. The shop also features display pedestals, raised panel wood interiors and specially-designed evening lighting fixtures. “It’s as though you’re looking inside someone’s library or private closet, with soft circular shades that are like welcoming warm nightlights.”

Construction manager and developer was Peter Friday of Forbes Trail Development. “They were very interested in having a traditional building that really worked within the context of Sewickley. They were all about making a new opportunity,” says Oliffe, about working within Sewickley’s established main street district.

Orr's Sewickley carries designer jewelry including Van Cleef and Arpels, Mikimoto, Marco Bicego, and John Hardy, as well as Swiss timepieces from Rolex, Patek Philippe and Chopard. Founded in 1952 in Midland, PA, the family-run business carries one of the largest collections of fine jewelry in the northeastern U.S.
Source: popcitymedia

Zale to close 60 underperforming stores

Zale Corp. plans to close 60 stores in the next 90 days, National Jeweler has confirmed.

Zale Chief Administrative Officer Rodney Carter didn't identify the stores, but said the Irving, Texas-based jeweler would be closing unprofitable Zales, Gordon's Jewelers and Piercing Pagoda stores and "several dozen more" stores later this year.

Zale Vice President and Treasurer David Sternblitz told National Jeweler that the company is not planning on exiting any geographic markets and that "there is the potential that the people impacted get placed at other stores or other brands."

Zale is one of many large retail chains to announce store closings following a dismal holiday shopping season.

In its earnings call last week, Zale reported same-store sales fell 9 percent in November and December, and total revenues for the two-month period were down 10.1 percent, from $804 million in 2006 to $723 million in 2007.

Speaking at the Cowen and Co. Annual Consumer Conference in New York, Carter also said Zale would cut capital spending from $100 million to $85 million.

Other retail stores to announce closings following weak holiday sales include home furnishings retailer Ethan Allen Interiors Inc., which is closing 12 stores; Liz Claiborne Inc., which is closing its 54-store Sigrid Olsen chain; and Macy's Inc., which announced three days after Christmas that it was closing nine additional stores, various news sources have reported.
Source: nationaljewelernetwork

Longtime jewelry store is leaving mall

Sartor Hamann, a longtime jewelry store at Foothills Mall, is closing its doors at end of the month, ending a 24-year relationship with Fort Collins.

The family-owned store, based in Lincoln, Neb., “has made a pretty conscious deci-sion to stay close to home,” said mall manager Cynthia Eichler.

Sartor Hamann, located in triple A space just inside the mall’s main entrance, is the second highest volume jewelry store in the mall, Eichler said.

Representatives at Sartor Hamann were unavailable for comment and did not answer the phone at the store today.
Source: coloradoan

New jewelry store opens in Worthington

Steve Hamzeh wanted to return to the area to be closer to family and friends, and he decided Worthington was a great place to open a jewelry store.

“I see a lot of opportunities and a lot of growth in this community,” Hamzeh said.

Hamzeh moved with his wife, Ana, and his daughter, Roya, from Washington just more than two weeks ago to open Palace, a jewelry store and repair shop. The new business is located at 1030 Oxford St. in a building that formerly housed a pet store.



“We looked at many locations. We decided on this spot because of the traffic,” he said. “We did a lot of improvements to the building because it was vacant for quite a while.”

Hamzeh comes from a family of jewelers. His family has been in the business for more than 80 years.

“I used to go to the store and watch them do repairs at an early age,” Hamzeh said. “I had to work five years in a different job. They wanted to make sure the jewelry business is what I really wanted.”

Hamzeh specializes in designing his own jewelry, especially bridal sets and dinner rings. He can design whatever people request. When he is not busy working on repairs and helping customers, he creates new pieces of jewelry to sell in his store.

“We design most of our own rings,” Hamzeh said. “We try to deliver something unique. Service is going to be our No. 1 priority. I am going to make sure we sell truthfully and from the heart,” Hamzeh said. “I focus on my clients’ needs, and I try to go above their expectations.”

Palace opened Dec. 17, and business has been steady.

“We have sold a number of engagement rings and wedding bands,” Hamzeh said. “Bridal sets are the main seller.

“The customers who have been in here have said our rings are very different from what they’ve seen at other places,” he said.

Not only can shoppers find a wide variety of jewelry to meet their needs, but Palace also offers jewelry and watch repair. Customers can expect repairs to be done while they wait or within a day’s time.

“So far, people have been surprised by the expedited service of our repairs,” he said.

When looking to make a jewelry purchase, Hamzeh said a small local store can be a good fit for customers.

“The dollar stays here, and we don’t out service any work. We provide it here locally,” Hamzeh said. “Our overhead is not as much as bigger stores in the malls, and we can pass the savings down to our customers.”

Palace is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.
Source: dglobe

Con Man Reportedly Dupes Jewelry Store

A man who passed himself off as a member of a federal terrorism task force hoping to propose to his fiancee before heading to Iraq conned a ritzy jewelry store into accepting a bogus $16,000 check for a diamond ring, a newspaper reported.

Michael Morgan is accused of paying for the ring at British jeweler Asprey with a counterfeit cashier's check, the New York Post reported Tuesday.

Morgan, 39, pleaded not guilty Monday to charges of forgery and grand larceny, the paper said.

Morgan, who was arrested Dec. 26, admitted to authorities he printed the counterfeit check on his laptop after telling a sales clerk he worked for a counterterrorism task force and wanted to get engaged before leaving for Iraq that night, the Post said.

By the time the store discovered the check was bogus, Morgan had unloaded the ring at a pawn shop for between $2,500 and $3,000, according to the paper.

Telephone calls placed Tuesday to police, prosecutors and defense lawyer Matt Goldsmith were not immediately returned.
Source: ap

Landmark Jewelry Store To Close

The owner of a landmark jewelry store in Macomb County said she is forced to close the doors because of a struggling economy.

After nearly 88 years, A.E. Schunke House of Diamonds, on North Walnut Street in Mount Clemens, is going out of business.

"It used to be really busy and you knew everyone in town," said owner Sue Schunke.

"The economy is different, people are different and everything changes."

Schunke continued to operate the family-owned business after her husband, Alfred "Al" Schunke Jr., died in 2003.

"It's time," Sue told the Macomb Daily. "It's not something I want to do, but it has to be done."

The family moved to Mount Clemens in 1917, and in 1920 it opened its first store. Since then the business moved several times, but in the 88 years it has been in business, their commitment to customer service has never changed, customers say.

A long-time patron told The Macomb Daily that the closing of A.E. Schunke will be a big loss to the city. He said that the owners had always demonstrated a commitment to quality merchandise and had great customer service.

"It's like a mom-and-pop store," said 10-year customer Norma Godfrey. "She knows everyone by name, just like 'Cheers.' It just feels homey? You don't get too much of that everywhere."

Schunke said that although she is closing the doors, she will never forget the great memories she has had there.

Schunke told The Macomb Daily that among her favorite memories was when her husband and others stood outside of the downtown Mount Clemens stores to watch presidential candidate John F. Kennedy stroll through the town on a campaign stop.

She said Kennedy asked for her husband's watch and he gave it to him, because Kennedy's watch wasn't working.

Schunke has marked everything in the store 20 to 60 percent off until she closes its doors on Jan. 31.
Source: yahoo

PNJ opens jewelry store at New World

A PNJ staff member (L)introduces the high-class CAO jewelry items to the first guests visiting the store in the New World Hotel

Phu Nhuan Jewelry Joint Stock Company yesterday opened a jewelry store in the midtown New World Hotel, displaying CAO-branded products.

This is the fifth store under the brand CAO Fine Jewelry, and the second one in high-class hotels after the first one opened at the Legend Hotel on Ton Duc Thang Street early this year.

PNJ general director Cao Thi Ngoc Dung said the company was looking to open more CAO stores in five-star hotels to introduce the high-quality jewelry items to international guests in a bid to promote the brand on the regional and world markets.

The bullion trader and jewelry producer this year expects total revenue of VND2.11 trillion, or some US$132 million, including VND128 billion in pre-tax profit.

PNJ will seek to enter new markets to double its exports to 300,000 products. Nguyen Vu Phan, deputy general director of the company, told the Daily that PNJ shipments this year were forecast to amount to some 150,000 products, with Germany and the U.S. being among its traditional export markets. Next year the company will find ways to export to European markets like Denmark, Belgium and France, Phan said.

On the domestic front, the company’s sales have totaled some two million products in the year to date and the figure is forecast to grow 30% next year.

PNJ is among the ten companies that have received the Vietnam Quality Awards 2007 early this month from the Ministry of Science and Technology.
Source: saigotimes

Stores open with air of uncertainty

The financially beleaguered Alpha Omega Jewelry chain reopened two of its four upscale stores under new management yesterday afternoon after the company's founder, Raman Handa, disappeared last week and the shops closed for business five days before Christmas.

After making an inventory of all items in the glitzy stores in Harvard Square and the Prudential Building in the morning, teams of smiling managers and business consultants opened the doors of both shops at 2 p.m. The stores in the Burlington Mall and the Natick Collection mall are expected to open about noon today, said Michael O'Hara, an investment banker who now manages Alpha Omega.

As holiday shoppers browsed - a student looking for a Swatch to give his friend; a young couple looking for an engagement ring - the company staff spent the afternoon trying to assuage the fears of customers who had made deposits or left jewelry and watches for repair, and reassure employees who had been told Friday they were fired, but were rehired yesterday.

"That's all what it's all about today: just trying to please people, make them feel secure," said Mark Robinson, a specialist hired to help restructure the business, who dashed about the company's flagship store in Harvard Square, chatting with employees and customers. "I actually don't care if we sell anything today."

But the shock of finding the store inexplicably closed for two days, and the air of uncertainty that remains about the location of the Handas, who are said to be in their native India, and the future of the chain's ownership worried some cus tomers.

"I wouldn't buy anything here," said Paul Harris of Newton, who had come to check on the status of his wife's Baume & Mercier watch he had dropped off for minor repairs three weeks ago. "People go out of business, but that's not the way to do it. You don't leave people in a lurch."

Many employees said they felt bitter about the way the Handas left and had the stores closed without any explanation.

"Maybe the owner is [under] extreme stress; I understand that. But I wish he [would] stand next to us," said Sara Kebabjian, who has sold jewelry at the store for five years. She said she felt unsure about the business and her status.

"Today we are here, we don't know about tomorrow," Kebabjian said. "We're going to see day-to-day. [What the] future brings, nobody knows."

"It's just been a lot of confusion, being very unsure about what your position is and whether you want to stay," said one employee, who asked that his name not be published because he was planning to quit. "There's so much lying going on. It's just something I don't want to get myself involved in."

Peter Livingstone, a watch collector from Concord, had come to check on the status of his order for a $460,000 A. Lange & Söhne Tourbograph watch, a built-to- order item for which he had left a deposit several weeks ago, and which he is expecting to receive within a year.

After a long conversation with a salesman, Livingstone was not convinced that his deposit to Alpha Omega guarantees he will get the watch.

"I bought the most expensive item in this store," Livingstone said. "I have to wait and see on that deal."

O'Hara, who manages the company under a new agreement between the Cambridge-based company's lawyers and the bank that seized its assets, said he was unsure about the whereabouts of owners Handa and his wife, Nilma, who remain directors of the company for now. O'Hara said he was told they were in India. O'Hara also said he was talking to potential buyers for the business.

The Handas, who have been struggling with financial problems, disappeared without notifying business associates or friends. Their stores closed after representatives of the bank that controls Alpha Omega's assets, the LaSalle Business Credit arm of Bank of America Corp., took possession of the company's inventory last week.

Some customers and employees appeared happy, though, yesterday. Mikhail Panko, 23, an exchange student from Russia, was relieved to find the Cambridge store open - and the engagement ring he had ordered ready for him to pick up.

Panko is planning to propose to Maria Maslova on Christmas Eve, and had prepaid for the ring last week.

But when he arrived at the store Thursday to pick up the ring, he found the doors shut, the store website down, and the answering machine not taking messages.

"I was really scared," said Panko. "I mentally had written off the money."
Source: boston

Gosses open jewelry store on Main Street

James Goss, who has been involved in the jewelry business 14 years, has returned to Hermiston and opened his own store.

Goss Family Jewelers, which he operates with the help of his mother, Cynthia, opened Wednesday in the Watson Building at 138 E. Main St.

After developing an interest in jewelry-making in high school, Goss, 36, attended jewelry schools and worked in jewelry stores in Hermiston, La Grande, Baker City and the Caribbean before returning to Hermiston, where his mother has lived since 1975. He said he's dabbled in other careers, "but I always found myself coming back to jewelry."

A goldsmith and jewelry designer, Goss said he specializes in creating custom jewelry and making jewelry repairs, but also provides minor watch repairs.

The store offers watches and gold and silver jewelry with diamonds and other precious stones. It also features a case that displays work from a local "artist of the month."
Source: eastoregonian

Lady Serena's Jewelry opens store in Virginia

Lori LeTourneau went to her first Renaissance Festival in 2000 and fell in love with chainmaille jewelry.

She said to herself, “I can make that,’’ which would soon come to fruition.

She and her husband Tom LeTourneau have had an active website (www.ladyserenas.us) for two years and she has been making the product for four years.

And they have just opened a new store, Lady Serena’s Jewelry on Fourth Avenue in downtown Virginia.

In addition to the chainmaille necklaces, earrings, bracelets and more, Lori LeTourneau also makes leather roses and other leather items.

The new storefront will enable the couple, who now reside in Eveleth, to expand on their sales via the Internet and at some past Renaissance Festivals.

“I think there’s a market in this area,’’ Tom LeTourneau said. The store has already been seeing some sales in its first few days and has received good feedback on both the jewelry and leather items.

The unique chainmaille jewelry is originally from the 11th Century, Lori LeTourneau said, where it was mostly used as armor.

She now hand crafts the different types of metal rings (from copper to gold) into the jewelry and even shirts and vests.

It is “literally weaved out of metal,’’ Lori LeTourneau said.

The average necklace, she added, takes about eight hours to craft, and longer if the metals are softer.

Her other specialty is hand-formed leather roses in a variety of traditional and other colors.

“It will last forever,’’ she said.

The unique roses have proved to be quite successful. “We have sold a lot of these over the Internet,’’ Tom LeTourneau said.

Other leather products include belt pouches and family coats of arms on request.

They said Lady Serena’s is currently not a leather repair shop, but that is something they are looking into.
Source: virginiamn

Jewelry World to close doors

Just in time for the holidays, the savings are huge at Jewelry World. The sad part is, the days are numbered for this home-owned store.

Ronnie West and his partner founded Quality Jewelers in 1980 and changed the name to Jewelry World in 1996.

The small store that thrived on Wilma Rudolph Boulevard was displaced when Old Trenton Road was extended across Wilma Rudolph into East Old Trenton Road.

Jewelry World then moved to its current location on East Old Trenton, but before long, it fell into the shadows of other developments, the owners said.

Jewelry World has always been a place where patrons could expect experienced service and were treated as friends, not just customers, West said.

Ironically, that factors into the reason it's closing.

"It's just time to close," West said. "I'm getting tired. I've been in this business for 30 years, and it's just not like it used to be. Back in the early years, you didn't have every Tom, Dick and Harry in town selling jewelry. Now you do.

"Part of it is that we do give jewelry service, too, and at one time, I was handling the service work for jewelry bought at other stores throughout Clarksville.

"But I do appreciate the business of all of our loyal customers," he said.

West said his final day will probably be around Jan. 6.

Jewelry World has specialized in all types of jewelry, along with the jewelry repair.

Tammy James, who has been with the company for several years, started out as a saleswoman before becoming a certified jewelry repair technician.

West has been a master jewelry technician for decades.

"Closing our doors will be a sad occasion, since I've spent so much of my life here and learned so much about the jewelry business," James said in a news release.

The going-out-of-business sale under way at Jewelry World continues until all inventory is liquidated.

Most of the merchandise, including diamonds, precious gems, rings, bracelets, necklaces and watches, has been marked down by as much as 70 percent.
Source: theleafchronicle